Bird Survey Saturday 16th

A reminder that there is a bird survey tomorrow at Cromwell Bottom, September the 16th. 

Please meet in the car park at 10am for a two hour walk in various locations on site. This will be led by Mike Henshaw.

Open Day 2017 - The Pictures

Our talented publishing team have done us proud! "Open Day - the Pictures" is hot off the press.
Wildlife Group members should by now have received an e-copy edition.

Please email if yours hasn't arrived.

Open Day

Fantastic Open Day. Great crowd and good weather. Everyone seemed to enjoy it. Many thanks to everyone who contributed to it and worked so hard to ensure it was a very successful event.

Lots of pictures HERE of the Open Day and the day before. Our members will have received a detailed account of our open day by now. If you have not received the PDF then please contact us.

Help Needed

To all our volunteers and friends

We will need some help on Friday the 11th of August at 09:30 am to check and erect some of our marquees ready for the Open Day.

Also on Saturday our Open Day, the 12th of August at 07:00 am we will need further help to erect the rest of our equipment, tables, chairs, signs etc.

Refreshments will be provided for volunteers. Toilets on site.

All events on the day are FREE.  Parking nearby FREE.  Refreshments available. 

Sunday 13th

A really BIG THANK YOU to all those volunteers and organisers who came along on Friday and Saturday morning to help erect our tents and marquees. Without these volunteers we would not have had the success we had. The weather and the hundreds of visitors made the day really special.

Moth trapping night

Is the moth trapping event scheduled for tomorrow night (saturday) going ahead?

This is listed as normal on our Blog and also our Web site. Please meet at the cabin or car park at dusk on Saturday the 5th. This will be led by Barry Nield.

Good in all weathers...

The Tag Loop Ponds are really proving popular now. On Monday Brighouse Central Scouts Group celebrated the end of term with a visit to the reserve for an evening of activities.  The weather was wonderfully mild and we all had a great evening together. Wild walks, bug hunting, bird watching, and pond dipping were all on the programme, followed by games and hotdogs back at the cabins.

All ready and waiting 

On Wednesday we had a much damper start for visitors from Greetland Primary School, but this didn't stop our enthusiastic pond dippers, who managed an impressive collection of beasts, including an adult common newt. As the day improved we had lots of damselflies and a couple of Common Darters around the pond.

As ever, the willingness of volunteers to turn up and run these events is vital. If you'd like to join our friendly bunch please get in touch via the link on this page. It doesn't matter whether your favourite activity is tea making or spider hunting - we'll find you a job!

Margaret

Evening walk 25.07.17

Had a walk over North and tag loop on Tuesday evening , it was great to see all the red clover etc covering North loop. there is an account of the 30 species of moth we saw on the Calderdale Moth blogg .Please use records if needed.
https://calderdalemoths.blogspot.co.uk/2017/07/cromwell-bottom-evening-walk-july-25th.html

An old pic

Found this on the net...................

Little Egret

Little Egret seen around the reserve for the last few days
and a few Common Darters by the Dipping Pond.

Little Egret

Common Darter

At the Ponds

Thursday morning was warm and sunny - a great day for pond gazing. The first working group for a few weeks was small but busy. We added some water into the Tag Loop ponds as the levels were getting very low and took the chance to do a bit of pond dipping ourselves.
Damsel flies were dancing across the water and there was lots of action below the water line. We dipped a few creatures out for inspection - unfortunately some of them ate some of the others before we had managed any ID!

There were plenty of efts [immature newts] of varying sizes:

We also found dragonfly nymphs and watched them devour some of our other treasures - ah well! Here's a link if you'd like to know more about their life cycle: British Dragonfly Society

The ponds are a lovely place to be - please help us all to look after them. Keep children safe and keep dogs out of the water so that it stays clear and settled - thanks!

Margaret 

Moth night morning.

Had a wander on to Cromwell Bottom on Sunday morning to check last night's catch and had an interesting couple of hours sorting through moths with Bruce, Barry and others. All credit to the wildlife group for creating such a family friendly reserve. The highlight for me however was this leaf mine on Birdsfoot Trefoil in Tag Meadow of Trifucula cryptella - I can only find around four Yorkshire records for this species, of course there may be others.

Also on Birdsfoot Trefoil was this striking Coleophora mayrella (below) catching a bit of sun.

Walks and Moths. Friday, Saturday and Sunday

Friday, June 30th. There will be a Meadows Walk led by Robin Dalton. This walk will start at 1:30 pm. Please meet in the car park.  Refreshments should be available in the Cabin.

Saturday the 1^st of July there will be another Moth Night led by Barry Nield. Moths fly just before dusk so meet then at the Cabin.

Sunday the 2^nd of July Moth Morning. Call in at the Cabin from 10am until approx. 1:00 pm to see what we caught the previous evening.   Leader Barry Nield. Refreshments in the Cabin.

All welcome to these events.

This Sunday 25th of June

 There will be a "Tree Walk" led by Bel Hale. This event is for all the family, Bel will describe and identify the trees found in the reserve. It will not be too taxing as it runs from 1:30 to 3:30.

There will be refreshments later in the Cabin. Meet in the Car Park by 1:30 this Sunday the 25th.

Recorded Spiders

List of spider species recorded at Cromwell Bottom

Any previous names are shown after the authority. The species count at Cromwell

Bottom is currently 102.

Any specimens that required confirmation were confirmed by Mike Roberts or Stan

Dobson also the late Clifford Smith, John Parker, and Jennifer Newton with

apologies for any omissions. With thanks for recent additions to Richard Wilson

Ecology who carried out a survey in 2017.

All those listed below have been recorded up to 2017

Mimetidae

Ero cambridgei Kulczynski, 1911

Theridiidae

 Phylloneta sisyphia (Clerck, 1757)

Neottiura bimaculata (Linnaeus, 1767)

Enoplognatha ovata (Clerck, 1757) Theridion ovatum

Pholcomma gibbum (Westring, 1851)

Linyphiidae

 Walckenaeria unicornis O.P.-Cambridge, 1861 Cornicularia unicornis

 Walckenaeria vigilax (Blackwall, 1853) Cornicularia vigilax

 Dicymbium nigrum (Blackwall, 1834)

 Gnathonarium dentatum (Wider, 1834)

Gongylidium rufipes (Linnaeus, 1758)

 Dismodicus bifrons (Blackwall, 1841)

Hypomma bituberculatum (Wider, 1834)

 Baryphyma trifrons (O.P.-Cambridge, 1863) Minyrioloides trifrons

 Pocadicnemis pumila (Blackwall, 1841)

Pocadicnemis juncea Locket & Millidge, 1953 P. pumila var. juncea

 Oedothorax fuscus (Blackwall, 1834)

 Oedothorax agrestis (Blackwall, 1853)

 Oedothorax retusus ( Westring, 1851)

Monocephalus fuscipes (Blackwall, 1836)

Lophomma punctatum (Blackwall, 1841)

 Savignia frontata Blackwall, 1833

Diplocephalus picinus (Blackwall, 1841)

Araeoncus humilis (Blackwall, 1841)

 Erigone atra Blackwall, 1833

Leptorhoptrum robustum (Westring, 1851)

 Drepanotylus uncatus (O.P.-Cambridge, 1873)

 Aphileta misera (O.P.-Cambridge, 1882) Hillhousia misera

Porrhomma pygmaeum (Blackwall, 1834)

 Agyneta decora (O.P.-Cambridge, 1871)

 Agyneta cauta (O.P.-Cambridge, 1902)

 Agyneta olivacea (Emerton, 1882)

Meioneta saxatilis sens. Str. (Blackwall, 1844)

 Microneta viaria (Blackwall, 1841)

 Centromerita bicolor (Blackwall, 1833)

 Centromerita concinna (Thorell, 1875)

 Bathyphantes approximatus (O.P.-Cambridge, 1871)

 Bathyphantes gracilis (Blackwall, 1841)

 Bathyphantes nigrinus (Westring, 1851)

Diplostyla concolor (Wider, 1834) Bathyphantes concolor

Drapetisca socialis (Sundevall, 1833)

 Lepthyphantes tenuis (Blackwall, 1852)

 Lepthyphantes zimmermanni Bertkau, 1890

 Lepthyphantes mengei Kulczynski, 1887

 Lepthyphantes ericaeus (Blackwall, 1853)

Helophora insignis (Blackwall, 1841)

 Linyphia triangularis (Clerck, 1757)

 Neriene montana (Clerck, 1757) Linyphia Montana

 Neriene clathrata Sundevall, 1830 Linyphia clathrata

 Neriene peltata Wider, 1834 Linyphia peltata

Tetragnathidae

 Pachygnatha clerki Sundevall, 1823

Pachygnatha degeeri Sundevall, 1830

 Metellina segmentata sens. str. (Clerck, 1757) Meta segmentata

 Metellina mengei (Blackwall, 1869) Meta segmentata mengei & Meta mengei

 Meta menardi (Latreille, 1804)

Araneidae

 Araneus diadematus Clerck, 1757

 Araneus quadratus Clerck, 1757

Larinioides cornutus (Clerck, 1757) Araneus cornutus

Larinioides sclopetarius (Clerck, 1757) Araneus sclopetarius

 Araniella cucurbitina sens. Str. (Clerck, 1757) Araneus cucurbitinus

 Araniella opisthographa (Kulczynski, 1905) Araneus cucurbitinus opistographus

 Zygiella x-notata (Clerck, 1757)

 Zygiella atrica (C.L.Koch, 1845)

Lycosidae

 Pardosa pullata (Clerck, 1757) Lycosa pullata

 Pardosa amentata (Clerck, 1757) Lycosa amentata

 Pardosa saltans Topfer-Hofmann, 2000 Lycosa lugubris

 Alopecosa pulverulenta (Clerck, 1757) Tarentula pulverulenta

 Trochosa terricola Thorell, 1856

 Arctosa perita (Latreille, 1799)

Pisauridae

 Pisaura mirabilis (Clerck, 1757)

Dictynidae

 Dictyna arundinacea (Linnaeus, 1758)

Dictyna uncinata Thorell, 1856

Amaurobiidae

 Amaurobius fenestralis (Stroem, 1768) Ciniflo fenestralis

 Coelotes atropos (Walckenaer, 1830) Amaurobius atropos

Clubionidae

Clubiona reclusa O.P.-Cambridge, 1863

Clubiona stagnatilis Kulczynski, 1897

Clubiona lutescens Westring, 1851

Clubiona comta C.L.Koch, 1839

 Clubiona brevipes Blackwall, 1841

Philodromidae

 Tibellus oblongus (Walckenaer, 1802)

Thomisidae

Xysticus cristatus (Clerck, 1757)

 Xysticus audax (Schrank, 1803)

Salticidae

 Salticus scenicus (Clerck, 1757)

 Neon reticulatus (Blackwall, 1853)

 Euophrys frontalis (Walckenaer, 1802) 

Moth Night!

FOR THE NIGHTHAWKS!

We should be running a moth trap around the cabin area tomorrow night. Start time will be around 8.30pm, but it won't be dark until maybe 22.30.
All are welcome but from previous experience - we don't tend to catch anything until 30mins after it goes dark. So I expect the first moths to start to be captured around 23.00.
You could have a nice evening stroll around the reserve & come over to the Cabin towards 10.00pm for the trapping, get a nice cup on Tea & wait for the Action!


Meet at Cabin after 8.30pm for Kick off around 10-10.30pm.


Sunday Morning - All the captured Moths should be available for inspection Sunday Morning, where they will be photographed & released around 12-12.30pm.


Hope to see you there!

Pond Dipping

This event, due to held on Sunday May 28th has unfortunately been cancelled. This is due to illness and other unforeseen circumstances.
This event will be held in the near future. Keep your eye on the blog.

Saturday Work Party. May 13th

Saturday was one of our regular work parties. There were enough people to organise three groups. Some started with a cuppa. Guides and Scouts were also involved. David sorted three parties, box building, pond dipping area and bird feeding area, (shown below). All equipment was provided.

Work parties are every Thursday and second Saturday.
.

One of Saturday's 3 work parties. 

Photo by Rosemary Wright

Today's Stroll

     A few pics from today and was nice to bump into  Dave F,
     at the lagoon and Dave L and Val at the cabin which was
     doing a good trade which was nice to see, I'm glad its
     getting plenty of visitor's. 28 species seen today and a
     few unid'd and plenty of birdsong but a lot not seen,
     it was good to hear the Water Rail at the lagoon.

                                          Dunnock with insect

                                          Goosander chicks

                                          Female Goosander

                                          Male Goosander

                                          Jay

                                          Chaffinch

                                          Buzzard

Last Night's Walk May 10th

Thirteen members and friends enjoyed a pleasant walk around the reserve last night the 10th. The weather was perfect. We ended up in the cabin for tea and biscuits. Our next walk is an early morning one this Saturday the 13th. Details in the previous post below.

Dawn Chorus Walk & Work Party 13th May

This is our second dawn walk. Last Saturday we had 25 species and 22 people. Not a bad count despite the cold NE wind.

There will be another dawn chorus walk this Saturday the 13th of May. Meet at 05:30 in the car park.
This will be led by Allan and others who will supply tea, coffee and bacon and egg butties later in the Cabin. Come and join us and blow those cobwebs from your hair. All Welcome.

Also on this day there will be a work party. Meet at the Cabin at 09:30. Come to one meeting or both.

DAWN CHORUS WALK Saturday May 6th 2017

DAWN CHORUS WALK

 Saturday May 6^th 2017

Robin’s and Chris’s Dawn walk was very successful with 25 bird species seen and heard. The weather was fairly gloomy and cold but it did not deter the birds or the humans.22 people including a number of children set out after a short  ‘be careful’ talk from Robin. We stopped at the Bailey bridge and noted blue tit and blackcap calling. Also in the distance a willow warbler’s song could be heard sounding as Shelagh described it as a falling waterfall of tuneful notes. Near the weir, unfortunately no sand martins, but there were 2 canada geese on the far bank, one of them with a gosling peeping out from under her wing and as we moved away she stood up and many of us saw 5 young ones scuttling to hide.

We continued past Tag ponds spotting common whitethroat,robin and willow warblers singing, perched on top of bushes. We  listened to the delightful song of a wren. “A bird that punches well above its weight in song “ Shelagh’s pen identifying bird song came in very useful.Down to the feeding station picking up more birds then onto the lagoon. 4-5 reed warblers noisily making their presence felt, defending their territories. A heron flew over and little grebes were calling.By now some children were feeling cold so we made our way back to the cabin. Here Robin and Chris set up camping stoves and very soon the tantalizing smell of cooking bacon was apparent. Bacon butties !! what a splendid way to finish a most enjoyable walk.Many thanks to everyone who took part.

There is another walk next Saturday 13^th , May do come along. 

Warblers

A fantastic weekend at Cromwell for singing Warblers , the hedgerows are now full of singing Blackcap , Willow Warbler , Chiffchaff ,Garden Warbler and the odd Whitethroat. In the Reed beds Reed Warblers can now be herd .A couple of Common Terns spent most of the bank holiday on the ski lake...Grey Heron , Swallows ,Kingfisher , Grey Wagtail  and  Buzzards were also about......Song Thrush , Reed Bunting ,  Bullfinch , Wren (must be the reserves commonest resident) , Blackbird , Robin , Mistle Thrush , Long Tailed , Blue,  Great and Cole Tits were also in good voice..

Chairpersons Report April 2017

The Chairpersons Report was given last Wednesday evening by Allan. He gave a full and comprehensive account of the past year.

Full Report here (click)

Get ready... and click!

Lots of people say how much they enjoy the photos on our blog. It takes some patience and a bit of cunning to get a photo you're pleased with so if you want to have a go at home in your own garden here are a few hints to get you started ...... from a total amateur!

• Put small amounts of food out regularly – especially on bird tables. This keeps mess to a minimum and is healthier for birds as they are not eating old and mouldy food. Your birds will learn your routine and will be ready and waiting, so it's good to keep a camera or your smartphone handy.
• Put out food they have to stay and eat, rather than things they can fly away with – larger pieces mean they have to peck bits off while you get your photo. Bread isn't really good for birds, so try fatty scraps, invest in some sunflower seeds or fat balls and meal worms [dead ones in packets are not unpleasant to deal with].
• Wedge things like peanuts, fat or cheese rind into cracks in a stump or branch so they'll have to work a bit to get at them. Drill a few holes if necessary!
• Get to know where the birds like to perch – some prefer to pause on a nearby branch or fence post to check things out before they approach. So set one up or trim back a few twigs if they are in your way.
• give them some water too - a large plant tray will make a great bath for a flock of sparrows.

Whether you photograph them or not your garden will be a great place for birds - enjoy!

Chiffchaff Nature Reserve

      On a walk around the reserve today produced
      27 species and Green Woodpecker and Treecreeper
      heard but not seen, loads of Chiffchaff all over the
      reserve and the Little Grebes making a racket on
      the lagoon, I only seen one but it sounded like there
      were a few more on there, and 2 Goosanders were
      sunbathing up by the weir.